Flexible container having tamper evident closure

Abstract

A tamper evident bag having a non-reusable frangible fastener profile assembly comprising two sets of lockable fastener profile elements specially constructed to manually lock together without the use of tools, and which once locked cannot be forcibly pulled apart. The bag includes a frangible connector bridge which will break away when the bag is opened indicating that the bag has been tampered with. The construction of the fastener elements also assures proper alignment of the lockable fastener profile elements across the length of the upper portion of the bag wall panels, making interlocking closure easy when pressure is applied on the outer walls of the bag behind the fastener profile elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A tamper evident bag comprising two opposing wall panels and a tamper evident frangible fastener profile assembly attached to the inside surface of said walls proximate to the top portion thereof, said tamper evident frangible fastener profile assembly comprising: a first lockable fastener profile element being formed of plastic and having a web portion with a rib extending lengthwise therealong, said rib comprising a neck portion formed on said web and with a head thereon with a tip at the distal end of said head and at least one side barb projecting outwardly from the side of said head;   a second lockable fastener profile element being formed of plastic and having a web portion having a groove element extending lengthwise therealong, said groove element comprising a pair of jaws spaced to form a groove receptacle to receive said head therebetween and with an entrance opening leading into said groove receptacle and the groove receptacle shaped to correspond to the shape of said head, whereby said head is received by said groove receptacle thereby forming a locked interconnection, said locked interconnection being permanent; and   a bridge portion connecting said groove element to the web of said second lockable fastener profile element, said bridge being frangible whereby said bridge will snap or break when the groove element and web portion of said second element are pulled apart, whereby opening of said bag is effective to sever said bridge thereby visually indicating the opened condition of said bag.   
     
     
       2. A tamper evident bag comprising two opposing wall panels and a tamper evident frangible fastener profile assembly attached to the inside surface of said walls proximate to the top portion thereof, said tamper evident frangible fastener profile assembly comprising: first and second cooperating lockable fastener profile elements arranged in a position facing each other;   said first and second lockable fastener profile elements being cooperatively arranged for alignment thereby facilitating interlocking closure engagement of the frangible fastener profile assembly by manually applying pressure from the outside of said wall panels in an inward direction behind said lockable fastener profile elements;   said first lockable fastener profile element being formed of a plastic material and comprising a web portion and a rib element, said second lockable fastener profile element being formed of a plastic material and comprising a web portion connected to a groove element by a frangible connector bridge, said rib element being adapted for reception by said groove element, whereby a locked interconnection is formed; and   said frangible connector bridge being adapted for severance when said top of said bag walls are separated, thereby permanently visually indicating the open condition of said bag.   
     
     
       3. The tamper evident bag of claim 2 wherein each of said profile elements includes a pair of parallel profile guide elements sized and positioned for guiding said profile elements into alignment. 
     
     
       4. The tamper evident bag of claim 2, wherein each of said first and second profile elements includes a guide element, a first one of said guide elements including a pair of parallel walls defining a channel, and a second one of said guide elements including a pair of angled walls adapted to enter said channel and align said profile elements when pressure is applied to said wall panels. 
     
     
       5. A non-reusable frangible fastener profile assembly adapted for use with a bag including opposite wall panels with inside surfaces facing toward each other, said fastener profile assembly comprising: a first lockable fastener profile element;   a second lockable fastener profile element;   said first lockable fastener profile element including a first portion which is connectible to said second profile element and including a second web portion which is attachable to one of the wall panels of said bag;   said second lockable fastener profile element including a first portion which is adapted to be interconnected in a permanently locked arrangement with the first portion of said first element, said second profile element also including a second web portion which is attachable to the other of the wall panels of said bag; and   a frangible bridge connecting the first portion of said second profile element to the web portion of said second profile element whereby force separating said first and second portions of said second profile element breaks said bridge.   
     
     
       6. The non-reusable frangible fastener profile assembly according to claim 5 additionally comprising a rib element and a groove element which are manually interlockable and are each part of said respective first and second profile elements. 
     
     
       7. The non-reusable frangible fastener profile assembly according to claim 5 wherein said frangible connector bridge is weaker in strength than the interconnection formed between said first and second profile elements when said elements are in interlocking engagement. 
     
     
       8. A permanently sealable bag comprising: opposite wall panels with inside surfaces facing toward each other, each of said wall panels having an upper portion;   first and second cooperating lockable fastener profile elements arranged in a position facing each other, said first lockable fastener profile element being secured to one of said inside surfaces of said wall panels projecting toward the other of said inside wall panels, and said second lockable fastener profile element being secured to the other of said inside surfaces of said wall panels projecting toward said first lockable fastener profile element, each of said first and second lockable fastener profile elements being aligned with respect to each other for closure, and extending the length of said upper portion of each of said wall panels;   said first lockable fastener profile element comprising a first web portion attached to said one of said inside surfaces of said wall panels at said upper portion and extending lengthwise therealong, said first web portion comprising first profile guide elements at the top and bottom of said first web portion and projecting outwardly from said first web portion and extending lengthwise therealong, said first profile element further comprising a neck portion and a head portion, said head portion having a tip and at least one side barb extending outward from said tip;   said second lockable fastener profile element comprising a second web portion attached to the inside of the other of said wall panels at said upper portion and extending lengthwise therealong, said second web portion comprising second profile guide elements at the top and bottom of said second web portion and projecting outwardly from said second web portion and extending lengthwise therealong, said second profile element further comprising a groove element, said groove element being attached to said second web portion by a frangible connector bridge, said groove element comprising two jaws which form a groove receptacle and into which groove receptacle said head portion of said first profile element is received;   said profile guide elements of said first and second lockable fastener profile elements projecting toward each other and properly arranged for insuring proper alignment of said first and second lockable fastener profile elements when pressure is applied during closure;   said jaws of said groove element being enclosed around said at least one barb of said head portion of said profile element when said head portion is pressed into said groove receptacle for interlocking; and   said frangible connector bridge breaking away from said web portion of said second lockable fastener profile element when force is applied against said groove receptacle and head portion when the groove receptacle and head portion are in interlocking engagement.   
     
     
       9. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said frangible connector bridge is adapted to break when force is applied against said groove receptacle and head portion, when the receptacle and head portion are in interlocking engagement, while said engagement remains intact. 
     
     
       10. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said jaws open sufficiently to receive said head when said head is pressed into said groove receptacle. 
     
     
       11. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said jaws bend around and enclose said at least one barb which extends outwardly from said head portion. 
     
     
       12. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said at least one barb of said head portion bends upwardly against said neck portion and said jaws of said groove element bend around said at least one barb when the profile elements are pressed together. 
     
     
       13. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said profile guide elements of said first and second lockable fastener profile elements insure proper alignment of said fastener elements. 
     
     
       14. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said groove receptacle is shaped to receive and permanently retain said head portion. 
     
     
       15. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said lockable fastener profile elements are fused to said inside surfaces at said upper portion of said wall panels. 
     
     
       16. The bag according to claim 8 wherein said lockable fastener profile elements are integral with said wall panels. 
     
     
       17. The bag of claim 8 wherein said bridge has a tensile strength of approximately 4 lbs.